The only positive aspects of Volcano House are the views and the gift shops. We knew that our room would be small and without tv, radio or clock. But the lighting was so poor, you couldn't even read. The beds were really uncomfortable. The towels in the bathroom were terribly old. I was up most of the night listening to some shutters banging in the wind outside. The buffet breakfast (the only option) was mostly inedible. I got to the dining room at 8:15am. The scrambled eggs were ice cold as were the breakfast meats. The baked goods were obviously store bought...a long time ago. And the coffee tasted like it had been re-warmed from the day before. While we were there, we heard numerous complaints from the folks who worked there. Volcano House is in desperate need of new management and infusion of funds.

The Volcano House offers great views and has the feel of staying at grandma's house. The rooms were small but clean, with old lumpy beds. For what we received, I found it to be a bit overpriced. The views are exceptional, but can be seen from the public restaurant or the park. I would visit the park, but look for other hotels.

We visited the Volcano House for one night.

We checked in at 3PM and found our room clean, made up without towels. We went to the front desk and requested towels and then went to the bar, the gift shop and the volcano view biding time till we couls get our towels. At 4PM we still did not have towels, nor at 5PM. Finally I stood in the lobby of the hotel and said in a very loud voice, "All I want is towels, is that asking too much,”? The woman behind the desk paid me no attention but the man in the bar asked her what was wrong and she said that she had been trying to find "UNCLE" on the radio since 2PM but he could not be found. I asked if she could not just "get us some towels, that was all we wanted." She then walked 20 feet down the hall opened a door and remove two sets of towels and handed them to me.
The room was clean, cold, with a small space heater hanging on the wall. When I walked into the bathroom and shut the door, the window, behind the door, was wide open with no screen and allot of flying bugs in the bathroom, -- it is after all a tropical rain forest.
I still can not understand the rude treatment I received.. Certainly not typical of the Aloha elsewhere on the island.

This is an old historic building, in a moist tropical environment, on the edge of an active steam ejecting, sulfur spewing volcanic crater at 4000ft above sea level. Anyone in their right mind needs to consider this and appreciate what work must go into maintaining a property like this under such conditions...and I do....But... for what may be lacking in physical appearance you must make up for in exceptional customer service. Even unreasonable people, (who can't see past the "tired funishings, delapidated structural items, and dated interior decor", who are paying over $200 for a voggy view of a drab grey cinder hole in the ground ( by the way, it is what it is ) can recover from their "initial shock" and come to appreciate their challenging accomodations in the presence of one of natures most awe inspiring phenomina, if you WOW them with great customer service. This is what's lacking at Volcano House.

My front desk experience was an instant turn off as the desk clerk made me feel as though I was interupting her cell phone call which was apparently surgically attatched to her ear as she simply lowered the mouth piece to instruct me that check-in time was 3:00pm. Realizing I had questions she asked her caller if she could call back in a few minutes. Note here..she was courteous to her caller.

For something to eat she directed me to the restaurant or the snack bar. We opted for the snack bar. Self service here and the opportunity for customer service was at the cash register. Not rude but not especially pleasant. Choice of food was ok and what you would expect in a snack bar.
The following day we had the breakfast buffet. The food was nothing to write home about. We got in about 10minutes before breakfast ended and had to sit through maintenance guys cleaning the windows around our table! They were kind enough to leave the pane behind my son until later. On the third day we ate the lunch buffet. Once again nothing special here just felt like a diner, wondered if they had a lead chef or just a head cook. Had a visit from a roach on the buffet line by the coffee machine. Buss staff was professional and helpful at the table.

I visited this hotel the weekend before Christmas with my teenage kids and actually stayed in a cabin operated by the hotel in an off property heavily wooded camp site about 21/2 miles from the main entrance to the National Park. They go for $50+ taxes and fees/ night. If you don't mind semi roughing it, this is perfect for the money. We loved it. No caldera view here though but that's fine.
These small one room cabins can sleep up to four adults comfortably with one full bed and a bunk bed. There is one light inside and one outside and no electrical outlets, a fire pit and a barbecue grill at each cabin. The hotel provides a sack with thin sheets and a light blanket, pillow cases towels and a bar of soap. They also instruct you to bring your own blanket or sleeping bag as it can get quite cold at night. A communal bathroom facility with hot shower is available, however, this could have been kept cleaner, not sure if it's the parks or hotels reponsibility. Park police and fire safety personnel patrol it seems, daily. We only used the cabin to rest our weary heads at night but it would make for a great full on camping experience. The highlight of my hotel experience.

In general we had an ok time as the sourrounding park had a lot to offer, and even though no one was generally rude no one went above and beyond in the service arena. One special mention for the clerk that checked us out. Pleasant and attentive. No one in the hotel seemed to buy-in to or shared how special a place it is for them to work. (Park Rangers showed a lot more hospitality ) They Get it. Complacency has set in at the hotel. What a pity. Oh, and take down those old old award plaques, actions speak louder than words so the plaques stand out like sore thumbs